Kenya: New hairstyle trend adopted by Kenyan women ‘sister rock’

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    Nairobi — “If I had known how useful ‘Sister Rock’ was, I would have installed it long ago.” Miss Jackie Gatoni confesses.

    In 1993, Dr. JoAnne Cornwell of San Diego developed a small uniform technique for styling hair naturally called “sisterlocks.”

    Introduced locally in less than a decade, Kenyan women haven’t been left behind by the ‘sister rock’ craze.

    However, very few people could afford to pay to have small locks installed, and there were only a handful of beauticians with knowledge of this technique.

    Miss Gatoni has been wearing this protective hairstyle for five years. She told me that when she first installed them she paid 60,000 ksh.

    “That amount seems like a lot, but when you consider the amount of work that goes into perfecting the art, it’s worth every cent,” she admits.

    Caren Sisterlocks is a salon located in Nairobi’s Central Business District. The owner, Caren, prides herself on providing quality service to her customers. She has been in the installation business for the last four years. While she didn’t disclose how much she was billed, Miss Cullen said the price per head varies depending on hair texture, length and volume.

    I found Miss Lillian at the salon she came to for advice. This is said to be important before installing a new sister lock. Deciding to have your hair locked is a big decision, let alone a permanent one. I am receiving advice.

    ‘Sisterlocks’ communities around the world have slogans “Trust the Process”In my research, I’ve noticed that this is because hair transitions from baby locks to the teenage stage and eventually to full locks. A year after making this bold move, when I look at my hair, I’m amazed at how much volume it has.

    “Sisterlocks are the best way to go. They don’t contain chemicals that can harm or weaken your hair. Once installed, all you need to do is spray rose water on your scalp or shake it with regular water, so maintenance is a breeze!” No hassle, I don’t like the operation, the installation fee has been greatly reduced, ksh.

    Installing Sisterlocks can take a day or two, depending on how much hair you have. It may take from two weeks to a year for the sister lock to settle.

    Sister Rock will increase in thickness by approximately 100% after a few washes. The ends always remain slightly thicker than the roots, marking the beginning of the locking process.

    Karen prefers to do new installations by herself, even with a well-trained assistant. She allows them to be retightened. Tightening is maintenance after 4-6 weeks to keep her hair fresh and clean.

    Lucy Akos says her boss allowed her to accompany clients for re-tightening after months of training her using dummies. It is clear that she has friendly non-business working relationships as well.

    Unlike a new installation of “Sisterlocks”, the reinstallation will take 2-3 hours. A follow-up schedule is critical to a successful lock. Miss Gatoni has revealed that she spent her ksh.60,000 on her hair, which she calls her investment. This totally locked sister claims to take collagen to nourish her hair, skin and nails for healthy “Sister Rock”. She also drinks a lot of water and exercises, proving that her “Sister Rock” is the center of attraction wherever she goes.

    Women from Nairobi have adopted this hairstyle and many say it is the best decision they have ever made.

    Most women are transitioning from chemical hair and traditional locks to ‘sister locks’. Traditional locks are most commonly created by rolling (or matting) medium to bulky hair between the palms of your hand with a balm or wax. Sister locks are installed using a special tool and a small piece of hair.